Quick Question (again!)

"Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen" (sportwagen)
10/08/2014 at 19:11 • Filed to: Question

I have recently become obsessed with finding a car that I can buy when I move out of my parents' house and go to college. I have the candidates narrowed down to Fox Body Mustang (87-93), Miata (NA/B), MR2 turbo (90+), and the best candidate, the Mitsu Starion/Chrysler Conquest! Now the question is:

How old do I need to be to register said car

and

Can I insure it myself?

(both without parents knowing)

EDIT: Just talked with mom... I asked if I had good enough grades over both semesters of school if I could get another car. Her response? "A 3.7GPA and I will consider it. I'm not discussing this again."

Let me remind you that this would be my money I would be spending...

Can Oppo help?

PS the reason without parents knowing is included is because they don't want me to have a "fast" car (LOL mom you had a Mustang GT as your first car, you have no room to talk!) because they think that I won't be able to afford college (LOL, I think that I would be able to spend $2.5K)

I want this!

DISCUSSION (39)

Arben72 > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/08/2014 at 19:18

Insurance will be expensive, but assuming your over 18, all the paperwork should be easy.

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > Arben72
10/08/2014 at 19:20

Insurance quote said something like "$90 per month minimum" So i would guess that it would be something like $150 per month in reality... (still worth it!)

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/08/2014 at 19:22

Registering all depends on the state, like in Alabama you have to be 18, but in Florida as long as you can pay for it, it's yours.

jkm7680 > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/08/2014 at 19:22

If you are over 18, you should be able to.

Arben72 > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/08/2014 at 19:23

If you can swing it, why not. Just telling you to be prepared for these things. Talk to your parents, you might be able to convince them 4 bangers are slow and reliable and practical.

Big Bubba Ray > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/08/2014 at 19:27

If you're over 18, you should be able to get it all done by yourself. Just keep in mind that insurance can be pricey. If your state (or the state where you go to school) require paying sales tax when registering, that can also be a couple hundred bucks. Factor in gas, possible repairs and then general maintenance. Also keep in mind you're going to have to park it somewhere around campus and you may have to pay for a parking pass.

Jayhawk Jake > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/08/2014 at 19:29

As I've told you before, be wary of pissing off parental units while you still depend on them. I can't tell you how to live your life, but I'd think twice before buying a car behind your parents' back.

Conan > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/08/2014 at 19:37

I saw a NA in BRG today. It was glorious.

T5Killer > Arben72
10/08/2014 at 19:39

Yep when I was 18 my insurance for my Cobra was almost $400 a month.

unpredictable_swerve > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/08/2014 at 19:40

Obvious answer is obvious.

Kinja'd!!!

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > Jayhawk Jake
10/08/2014 at 19:52

Well I will be in OKC and if they ask, it will be the roommate's car*

*it will probably be registered under my name

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > unpredictable_swerve
10/08/2014 at 19:54

Well, the issue is finding a good one for a decent price... they are becoming desirable and the prices have been going up (turbo models are around $8K with 150K miles)

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > T5Killer
10/08/2014 at 19:54

LOL but it was a brand new car when you got it right?

Jayhawk Jake > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/08/2014 at 19:58

Sorry, still sounds like a really risky idea. I imagine your parents will figure it out eventually.

I speak from experience. If you have a solid relationship with your parents now, you should do everything in your power to keep it that way. Someday you might need help, and you'll want them to be willing to provide it.

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > Jayhawk Jake
10/08/2014 at 20:01

Fine, I may try to convince them that if I have good enough grades (3.25 GPA?) at semester, they should allow me to buy a car with MY money...

T5Killer > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/08/2014 at 20:05

3 years old when I got it. The new body style '99s had just came out so its price took a dive.

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > T5Killer
10/08/2014 at 20:13

Ah, well I was considering SN95 Cobra but then I saw that I could get more performance for less (MR2, StarQuest Twins, Turbo Miata ;) That and for an 18 year old, $150 per month for comprehensive and liability isn't half bad! (Although the car in question would be worth at most $3K :/

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/08/2014 at 20:19

As someone else had said, I'd suggest you don't go behind your parents back and do something that will probably piss them off. It is more than likely that you will need their help in your future at some point, plus they're your family - don't lose that trust.

As a compromise, why not get something that is more of a sleeper that meets their criteria for safety but is also a secret jalop car?

E36 BMWs are cheap these days and LOTS of fun (just go look at any auto-X line up). Or something like a Subaru 2.5RS....you get my drift (pun intended!). By any standard a pretty normal sedan like car - but really fun as is, but also plenty of room for upgrades later on if you feel the need to do so. Plenty of cars out there like that - just think outside the box a little.

Jayhawk Jake > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/08/2014 at 20:22

Like I said, I'm not telling you what to do I'm just giving you advice.

Are you paying for school yourself? You say YOUR money, but how much of your own livelihood are you financing? If you're fully financially independent then sure, you should do whatever you want with your money. But if you're like I was when I started college, with your parents financing some or all of school, helping or completely paying for rent, giving you any form of allowance, then it's YOUR money but it might not be received well when you buy a car.

I get it, I wanted a car of my own when I was your age. I probably would have had the same attitude: I'm an adult, it's my money, I'm gonna do what I want. But looking back on it now my parents were providing a lot for me, and while they never fussed some of the frivolous things I bought when I was a freshman/sophomore/junior were kind of dickish on my part.

I'm not a wise sage with all the answers. My financial advice is always from the perspective of 'don't do what I did, I was a dumb kid'. I know you weren't looking for a counterpoint with this post, but I'm just offering you some advice that could have done me some good 8 years ago in your shoes.

T5Killer > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/08/2014 at 20:24

Very true SN95 is not that good on the performance per $$. Honestly as much as I love my '95 if I had to do it again I would have got a 87-93 5.0 GT hatch and called it day. I looked at a Green '87+ GT before the Cobra and I still think about that car a lot LOL.

(it looked just like this)

Kinja'd!!!

unpredictable_swerve > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/08/2014 at 20:25

Thats way too much for a stock turbo, I would recommend going with an N/A as they are both cheaper and better on gas, as well as in your price range. My first MR2 was an N/A (Also the first vehicle I had a say in getting) and I wish I never would have sold it.

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > ZHP Sparky, the 5th
10/08/2014 at 20:26

I did... Bimmers are a PITA to maintain and Subies eat head gaskets :/ I want something mechanical that I can fix with a socket set and a 10mm wrench...

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > Jayhawk Jake
10/08/2014 at 20:29

You're right... I asked my mom about this

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > T5Killer
10/08/2014 at 20:30

Yeah, I really want one of those but they are getting expensive again...

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > unpredictable_swerve
10/08/2014 at 20:30

Maybe...

Jayhawk Jake > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/08/2014 at 20:35

There you have it. Listen to her, focus on school, drop it until then.

As much as you want that fun car now, if you focus on school and do well you can have anything you want in a few short years.

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > Jayhawk Jake
10/08/2014 at 20:40

I think around graduation I will try to convince her with a 3.5 ;) After all, I never got a sweet 16 gift LOL (the Jetta was bought by parents when I was in 8th grade, they had no intentions of me driving it haha)

Jayhawk Jake > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/08/2014 at 20:46

Yeah, I wouldn't do that. She sounds pretty annoyed by it already, you're just playing with fire.

Especially if you try that sweet 16 bit. That sort of thing never goes over well

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > Jayhawk Jake
10/08/2014 at 20:47

Haha then I guess that I won't! I don't know why she is always getting annoyed nowadays about EVERYTHING. Literally EVERYTHING

BTW are you going to be at the carshow this weekend?

unpredictable_swerve > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/08/2014 at 20:51

https://norfolk.craigslist.org/cto/4662393665…

Jayhawk Jake > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/08/2014 at 21:08

Probably not, I have a date Friday evening. I might swing by after

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > Jayhawk Jake
10/08/2014 at 21:13

Kinja'd!!!

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > unpredictable_swerve
10/08/2014 at 21:13

Oh I will take the Starion/Conquest in the back!

unpredictable_swerve > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/08/2014 at 21:15

Thought you would enjoy that.

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > unpredictable_swerve
10/08/2014 at 21:16

;)

Jay Lauer > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/08/2014 at 21:32

After reading all of this, I definitely agree with Jake. Buying a car behind your parents back is a bad idea. Insurance would be very expensive for you, and out-of-state tuition isn't cheap. Either your parents will be providing or students loan will be involved. I'd use your money wisely at that stage in your life. In college, you'll work part-time at the most, and a lot of that will be used for rent and food. $2500 is hard to come by when you've got bills.

Also, let me tell you firsthand, having multiple cars isn't a glorious affair. You have two cars to be paid for, two insurance payments (I have blanket insurance, which is even more), two property tax payments, two sales tax payments when they're bought, two places of storage needed, two cars maintenance schedules, and two gas tanks to be filled.

What's important to note with your prospective lists is that all older cars have issues. Doesn't matter if it's a Mazda or Toyota, something will poop out just because it's older.

Honestly, the car you have now is fine. Anyone would be more than happy to use that. My car at your age was a 95 V6 Mustang that was teal with a crinkled fender, and it wasn't until laster year (age 20) that I started dealing numerous car at a time.

My one tip, if you simple must change cars, it to have an all-in-one. I would nominate selling the TDI and buying an 04-09 Mazda 3. I had one when I lived in Des Moines and it was an amazing car. A lot of them come in manual, and many of the underpinnings are from the Focus.

Kinja'd!!!

I'd be more than happy to have another one of these again. If you're very insistent on having a second car, I would shrink the budget to something realistic: $1000. With that money, I'd buy one of these, which is what I've been dailying now that I've ran out of vehicles.

Kinja'd!!!

Only a couple hundred more pounds than a NA Miata. Easy to work on, dirt cheap to maintain.

All of this said, I high advise against buying a second car or buying behind your parents' backs.

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > Jay Lauer
10/08/2014 at 21:35

The parents are staunchly against selling the Jetta... and I don't know why! I would give it back to them to have a fun car, but if they would let me mod it (ECU tune, better wheels and tires, MAYBE lowering springs,) I would be super fine with it... but nope! Gotta keep it stock even though we have already guaranteed that you will get it when you graduate!

T5Killer > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/09/2014 at 10:50

Yeah sadly they are even more expensive vs 96-98 GTs at this point LOL.

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > T5Killer
10/09/2014 at 11:26

It really is kind of sad... about 2 years ago I had the chance to buy a mint 1990 Red GT Hatch 5 speed for $3k.... it was REALLY nice :(